Shivakumar Seeks Criminal Probe into Alleged Misuse of Form 7 to Delete Voters

Bengaluru, Oct 1 : Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Thursday sought a comprehensive probe, including a criminal investigation, into the alleged misuse of Form 7 to seek deletion of voters' names during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Stepping up the state government's response to allegations of bulk voter-deletion applications, Shivakumar alleged that some BJP leaders and workers were attempting to target voters belonging to minority, poor and Dalit communities.

“There is a need for a comprehensive investigation and a criminal investigation within the framework of law into this matter,” Shivakumar said in a video message.

He said Congress leaders had submitted documents to him relating to cases in which Form 7 applications were allegedly filed fraudulently in their constituencies.

The Chief Minister specifically referred to Bhalki, Mudigere and Narasimharaja constituencies, saying that similar complaints from different parts of the state suggested that the issue required investigation beyond individual cases.

“If this is happening in the constituencies of our MLAs, it indicates that a major conspiracy is taking place across the State,” he alleged.

The controversy over Form 7 applications has intensified as the SIR process enters the claims-and-objections stage, with reports of bulk applications seeking deletion of voters' names in several constituencies.

Shivakumar urged Booth Level Agents, BLA-2s, legislators, party workers and voters to immediately provide details of Form 7 applications seeking deletion of their names or those of other voters.

He said he would meet election officials on Thursday and place before them the documents and information collected from across the state.

“I have a responsibility as the Chief Minister to protect your right to vote,” he said.

The Chief Minister also urged party functionaries and voters to share details of suspicious Form 7 applications so that the matter could be taken up with the Election Commission.

According to figures cited in earlier reports, 1.08 crore of Karnataka's 5.54 crore voters had been categorised under the “Absent, Shifted, Dead, Duplicate and Others” categories during the SIR exercise, while notices over discrepancies had been issued to 43.81 lakh voters in the draft rolls.

The Form 7 issue has gained momentum following reports of bulk applications in constituencies including Bhalki and Babaleshwar.

Data from the Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer's office has also indicated a discrepancy between the number of Form 7 applications reflected in the draft electoral roll and figures subsequently shared by the office. Officials have said the figures require verification.

Form 7 is the prescribed application for seeking deletion of a voter's name from the electoral roll on specified grounds. The validity of individual applications is subject to scrutiny under the electoral-roll process.

The Chief Minister's latest demand has put the focus on verification of bulk Form 7 applications and whether the SIR exercise was allegedly being misused to remove eligible voters from the electoral rolls.